Mounting device for hood release lever

Abstract

A lever mounting portion is formed on a junction box to be accommodated inside an instrument panel. A hood release lever is fixed to the lever mounting portion of the junction box by merely sliding the hood release lever on the lever mounting portion and accommodated in the instrument panel. An opening is formed on a passenger compartment side outer surface of the instrument panel at a position where the junction box is accommodated. A decorative plate for closing the opening is removably provided. The opening that is exposed by removing the decorative plate therefrom is used to accomplish maintenance of the junction box and operate the hood release lever.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A structure for mounting a hood release lever on a junction box accommodated inside an instrument panel in a vehicle; said structure including: 
       a lever mounting portion provided on said junction box, said junction box positioned inside said instrument panel and said hood release lever fixed to said lever mounting portion;  
       an opening provided on a passenger compartment side outer surface of said instrument panel at a position where said junction box is positioned; and  
       a plate removably provided in said opening;  
       wherein said opening is exposed by removing said plate therefrom and said opening is used to accomplish maintenance of said junction box and to operate said hood release lever.  
     
     
       2. The structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said junction box is positioned in said instrument panel so that a front side thereof on which fuses and relays are mounted faces said opening, said structure further including: 
       a recess provided at a lower end of said junction box that receives said lever mounting portion;  
       a slide frame provided on said lever mounting portion at a front side thereof;  
       a hooking bar extending across said recess provided on a rear surface of said lever mounting portion;  
       a slide projection provided on a front side of said hood release lever and a hook extending from an upper surface of a rear side of said hood release lever; and  
       wherein said slide projection of said hood release lever is slidably inserted into said slide frame of said lever mounting portion, and said hood release lever is locked by hooking said hook to said hooking bar.  
     
     
       3. The structure according to  claim 2 , wherein said hood release lever further includes: 
       a body portion; and  
       a tiltable lever mounted on said body portion.  
     
     
       4. The structure according to  claim 3 , wherein said body portion includes a T-shaped upper surface portion facing said lever mounting portion, and said slide projection projects from said upper surface portion. 
     
     
       5. The structure according to  claim 4 , wherein said hook is configured in a curved shape that curves from said rear side of said hood release lever toward said front side of said hood release lever and said slide projection. 
     
     
       6. The structure according to  claim 3 , wherein said body portion includes a projecting portion; and 
       said tiltable lever includes;  
       a recess therein that receives said projecting portion;  
       a shaft connecting said projecting portion and said recess; and  
       a grip portion;  
       wherein to operate the hood release lever, the grip portion is pulled by an operator such that the tiltable lever rotates around said shaft.  
     
     
       7. The structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said hood release lever further includes: 
       a body portion; and  
       a tiltable lever mounted on said body portion.  
     
     
       8. The structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said plate includes first and second locking pieces projecting from a rear surface of said plate, said first and second locking pieces locking said plate to edges of said opening. 
     
     
       9. The structure according to  claim 8 , wherein said first locking piece projects from an upper end of said plate, said second locking piece projects from a lower end of said plate, and said first and second locking pieces lock said plate to said instrument panel by engaging an upper edge and a lower edge, respectively, of said opening. 
     
     
       10. The structure according to  claim 9 , wherein said first and second locking pieces are configured in an L-shape in cross-section. 
     
     
       11. The structure according to  claim 10 , wherein said first locking piece is configured to taper into a point for removal of said plate from said opening. 
     
     
       12. A junction box for accommodation inside an instrument panel in a vehicle, said junction box comprising: 
       a case;  
       a recess provided at a lower end of said case; and a lever mounting portion provided in said recess at said lower end of said case, said lever mounting portion configured to receive a hood release lever, said lever mounting portion includes a mounting frame inclined downwardly toward a rear surface of said lever mounting portion.  
     
     
       13. The junction box according to  claim 12 , said junction box further comprising: 
       a slide frame provided on said lever mounting portion at a front side thereof; and  
       a hooking bar extending across said recess provided on a rear surface of said lever mounting portion;  
       wherein said slide frame and said hooking bar are configured to receive said hood release lever.  
     
     
       14. The junction box according to  claim 13 , wherein the hood release lever includes a slide projection provided on a front side thereof and a hook extending from an upper surface of a rear side thereof; 
       wherein the slide projection of the hood release lever is slidably inserted into said slide frame of said lever mounting portion, and the hood release lever is locked by hooking the hook to said hooking bar.  
     
     
       15. The junction box according to  claim 12 , said junction box further comprising: 
       a relay accommodation portion and a fuse accommodation portion provided on a front side of said case; and  
       a plurality of brackets projecting from an upper end of said case.  
     
     
       16. The junction box according to  claim 12 , said junction box further comprising: 
       an opening provided in lower surface of said mounting frame;  
       a cutout provided in a central portion of a front surface of said mounting frame;  
       a slide frame provided on said mounting frame at a front side thereof, said slide frame including a pair of L-shaped portions provided on either side of said cutout; and  
       a hooking bar provided on a rear surface of said mounting frame;  
       wherein said mounting frame is configured to receive said hood release lever.